TRAININGS:
With COVID-19, ICWA Court utilized virtual trainings, including attendees from throughout Arizona and out-of-state tribes and courts. An increase in ICWA-training participants indicates improved cultural sensitivity and lifted ICWA active efforts findings from 90% compliance to 100% for our Operational Review.
Since October 8, 2020, the ICWA team has provided thirteen specialized trainings for judges, attorneys, staff, caseworkers, and others involved in dependencies. A Native American judicial law clerk was hired who is a member of a tribe ICWA Court serves. Her expertise in tribal relations and culture helped ICWA Court begin to establish relationships and trust between the tribes, communities, and agencies. This law clerk’s skills, in addition to the planned collaborative goals, led to enhanced cultural competence and culturally diverse trainings on topics such as cultural humility, racism, implicit bias, tribal cultural competency, ICWA law, and “gold-standard” practices.
The establishment of ICWA Court achieves the spirit of ICWA through tribal collaboration and partnerships to ensure active efforts are made, and tribal culture and traditions are honored. To illustrate, the Tohono O'odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe gave eight presentations on their culture, history, and services. CFP's experts presented on cultural humility. Honorable Diane J. Humetewa, United States District Court Judge for the District of Arizona, and Arizona State Senator Sally Ann Gonzales spoke regarding federal, state, and tribal intersections. These trainings have been successful and well attended by upwards of 80+ people. Through these trainings, ICWA Court has gained tribal, state, and national notoriety and is recognized as a model ICWA Court. Currently, the ICWA team presents trainings organized in cooperation with Arizona’s Administrative Office of Courts. At least 200 participants attended the August 2021 training on ICWA Qualified Expert Witnesses.
